Daniel McSctay has stepped up to incredible heights so far in the 2022 season, acting as one of the spearheads behind the Lions' push for a top-four finish.
Across 146 games for Brisbane - where he has kicked 115 goals as a key forward - McStay has cemented himself as one of the key components of the Lions' forward line.
Originally from Victoria, McStay is putting up career nest numbers this season, averaging 1.4 goals per game alongside 12 disposals and an above-average 5.9 marks. At 26 years of age and standing tall at 195cm, McStay could be a very useful puck for a lot of clubs in need of a key forward.
However, with his contract expiring towards the end of the season, the tall forward may be weighing up his options. With plenty of Victorian-based clubs in need of a goalscoring boost, or with other players looking increasingly likely to move on, there’s a good reason for McStay to head back home.
The Lions forward has already had his name heavily linked to a return south of the Tweed, prompting ongoing speculation around his future from 2023 and beyond.
Forward
Disposals
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Goals
Keeping this in mind, we’ve listed FIVE potential landing spots for the key forward in the upcoming free agency period.
Richmond is a team that could greatly benefit from the arrival of McStay, especially considering the age of some of their forwards. Tom Lynch is already 29, and with veteran Jack Riewoldt looking increasingly likely to call time on his career at the end of the season, picking up a forward the quality of McStay seems like a no brainer.
At the prime age of 26, the key forward could be an essential long-term replacement for Riewoldt, having enough experience to get started straight away, keeping the Tigers at the top of their game.
Lynch is already a solid choice for a full forward, but his inconsistencies raise the question on whether McStay could be a potential replacement. A partnership would seem more likely with Riewoldt likely to retire. Having another, taller forward partner to play alongside would give the troubled Lynch a bit more freedom to play one-on-one rather than being double-teamed.
Although defender Noah Balta is being given a new rotational role in the forward line, he was already established as a solid player down back. Restoring Balta to his former glory at fullback while gaining the experience of McStay upfront to replace Riewoldt seems like a perfect move for the Tigers.
There are a lot of areas North Melbourne need to work on. It’s going to be hard for them to improve as a side if they can’t transition the ball properly into the forward line, so the addition of a player like McStay probably shouldn’t be their priority. However, he would still be an excellent fit for their system if they were to pick him up.
North’s forward troubles are a result of their poor structure. With big Nick Larkey as their main focal point, their small forwards don’t do enough work to win the ball over after it's been knocked loose. Larkey will do his job but will get ganged up on due to a lack of another forward threat. The addition of Callum Coleman-Jones may pave to fix this issue, but he is yet to make an impact on the team and holds hopes of taking on ruck duties.
Bringing in McStay at 195cm means another reliable forward option who is clearly better suited to the role than Coleman-Jones. As well as being a player who can provide a strong marking presence, he also takes a lot of the attention away from Larkey, meaning the tall can play to his one-on-one strengths.
The evidence for this kind of partnership’s success is written in history, and it’s worked for North before. The forward line of McStay and Larkey would work in a similar fashion to the Ben Brown/Larkey combination from a few years back, in which Ben Brown came second in the Coleman Medal for two years consecutively despite North's struggles.
More of an interesting option, McStay could be a good fit for Collingwood despite them already having some solid forward options. Although they have players more than capable of kicking a few majors on their own, the addition of a tall like McStay may change the dynamic in their favour.
Brody Mihocek is a great goalkicker and holds his own quite well. However, he’s not exactly super big-bodied or tall. The addition of McStay to play alongside him as more of a key forward would provide another solid option for when the ball enters the forward line while allowing Mihocek to move around more freely and play to his strengths.
Mason Cox is facing an uncertain future this season. The magpies tall probably isn't good enough to keep Collingwood competing at the highest level. With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, Cox's days look limited.
Darcy Cameron is another tall option for the Pies, at 205cm he should be a force to be reckoned with, however his contract also ends this year. Picking up the more capable, and younger McStay for a free agent just makes sense.
Collingwood do have a few fringe players with some height that are yet to get a run, but they could look to McStay as a more reliable and consistent performer if they're aiming to keep up with the rest of the competition.
Essendon are in need of more reliable forward options. Peter Wright is decent but still feels like a placeholder until the Dons can tie down someone more solid. Players like Jake Stringer and Harry Jones are sufficient, but Stringer doesn’t spend enough time up front to consistently score.
Picking up an out-and-out forward like McStay could be an immediate fix to all of their forward problems. McStay is a tall, consistent and experienced forward option, and can act as someone Essendon can rely on to consistently take marks and score goals.
The Dons haven’t really had a player that looks like a massive goal threat since Joe Daniher’s departure. If the Bombers want to get back to their best, this void needs to be filled. Picking up a player of McStay’s quality in free agency might be just the way to do it.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Let’s be honest, the Lions are in a pretty good spot at the moment. Everything seems to be clicking, they are currently sitting second on the ladder only behind last year’s premiers, and continue to go from strength to strength week in, week out. If this continues, who’s to say the Lions don’t secure McStay to another contract?
The 26-year-old has already played 146 games for the Lions, being swung between both the forward line and the backline. Only more recently solidifying himself as an out-and-out forward, things are starting to look good for the Eastern Ranges product.
With Lachie Neale winning the ball out of the midfield, and a supporting cast of Charlie Cameron and Lincoln McCarthy to clean up the loose balls, McStay should feel right at home with the Lions already.
Although originally from Victoria, McStay has spent his whole career in Brisbane after being drafted by the Lions in the 2013 draft at Pick 25. He’s come a long way with the club, meaning there’s still a good chance he’s keen to stick around given the opportunity.